"EMILY OF NEW MOON"
Third Episode:  "The Book Of Yesterday"
Leni's Role:  May Brownell
Emily Starr has been at 'New Moon' for two weeks.  Aunt Elizabeth has decided that Emily must start attending school at 'Blair Water'.  She has never been to school before, so she is quite frightened.

She is dropped off by Cousin Jimmy.  The kids run up to her and start calling her names.  The school bullies pick on her, and Miss Brownell is just horrible!!!!

May Brownell is a striking woman in appearance.  Somewhat severe in her choice of clothes, but always dressed in new, very clean and orderly attire.  She has silky dark hair that is always pulled back in a beautiful coiffure, very proper within the styles of the 1890's.  She wears glasses that are pinched upon her nose with sometime golden chains draped on each side of her face to catch the glasses if they might fall.  She walks straight and tall as she glances down upon her pupils with a very long pointing stick held rigidly in her hands, as she yells out facts to be answered.  Discipline is the highest of her goals.  She walks up and down the aisles between the seats in the room, asking questions to be answered immediately as she yells out a name to respond; her steps are paced in perfect rhythm as each step is heard throughout the class.  She always picks on a student that she wishes to humiliate for the moment.  After the unlucky pupil answers, May again immediately yells out a name of one of her 'pets' - - "Rhoda, was that correct???"  or "Jenny, do you agree???"  May is in glee when the pupil is proved wrong!!!  Then more degradation is spewed out upon the unfortunate child!!!!  Sometimes the question is answered correctly, but then Rhoda or Jenny will receive the "Excellent" or "Very Good" or "Good Girl!" reply from Miss Brownell.

Emily makes a new friend in school, her name is Ilse Burnley.  Ilse despises Miss Brownell.  She calls her "old brown cow," or "old heifer."  During one of Emily's first days at school, Brownell disciplines her by whipping her right hand with the pointing stick.  Emily runs out of the classroom thoroughly humiliated, with May Brownell shouting orders after her to, "Come back at once!!!"  Ilse retaliates quickly with, "You stupid old heifer!!!"

May Brownell is around 38 years old and apparently has resigned herself to spinsterhood.  She wishes to be married, but she can't attract the 'good men' on her list.  Ilse's father, Dr. Allen Burnley is at the TOP OF THIS LIST, and Ilse very loudly announces the fact to all that will listen.  May can hear the insults from afar, which compounds more of her reasons to become as ruthless as possible, as she continues to teach the children of Blair Water.


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Photos were created by Ki'raa from The Television Series "Emily Of New Moon."  Copyright 1997, Emily Productions Inc.  Pigtail Productions Inc.  AllRights Reserved.  Copyright 2001-2003, Ki'raa.  All Rights Reserved.  Please do not use the photos without prior permission from Ki'raa.